Albert and Alain Ménard-Lacoste are twin brothers. Albert is a “success”, which is to say that he has become rich and respectable, feared by those around him and making his family’s life hell. He is not a happy man. Alain has travelled a lot and lived very modestly. A meeting takes place between the two brothers, and Alain dies suddenly. Albert assumes Alain’s personality and returns home. Welcomed as Albert’s heir, he quickly finds himself in the same situation as before his “death”. Even his wife, acting only out of self-interest, wants to marry him. The family doctor discovers the deception, and Albert sets off for adventure.
Released in 1953, La vie d’un honnête homme, a dark, acid, and desperate film, underscores the subtlety of Michel Simon’s talent. This film introduced Louis de Funès and Claude Gensac to the screen. Gensac was to go on to ten more film appearances with de Funès, most often in the role of his wife.